, 1887-08-18

his Slue.
On Tuesday her boy, the only con-
ISOLATION left her, was to be taken
away forever. That day she went to
bid the child goodbye, and came
away from the painful scene with her
mother heart torn in anguish. Des-
perate at the thought that her dar-
ling was to be taken by worthless
scoundrel, she went to the second
hand store and bought pistol.
(Here the pistol was produced, but
the witness failed to identify 1t posi-.
tively)
O'Brien had carried pistol for two
years threatening to shoot her. Dis
tracted and hardly knowing what
she was doing she walked up to the
depot. AS she was going along the
platform she saw her boy at the win
dow, and the innocent child, unsus-
picious of the grief and misery of his
mother,
SMILED AT HER.
This was too much Tor her already
overweight nerves. She saw the
child whom she had loved better than
herself, around whom all her afiec-
tions had twined, the last and dear
est of those who had called her
mother; and by his side sat the man
who had destroyed her happiness,
who had ruined her life; who had
said that he cared nothing for the
boy, but only took him in order to
grieVe his former wife.
OBrien was sitting with his back
to the window, leaning slightly for
ward. She quickly drew her revol-
yer and fired, then turned and went
away.
Such was her story and it was rem
dered all the more pathetic by the
haggard expression and nervous
bearing OF the narrator.
The lawyer for the prosecution
then rose, and in cold, logical words
showed that a crime had been COM
mitted and must be punished. He
was sure of his ground and 50 spoke
but a short time.
1t then became the duty Of Judge
Booge to- render his decision, and it
was evidently hard task for him.
In few words he showed that un.
der the laws, it was necessary for him
to bind over the defendant for trial
before the district court. Mrs.
O'Brlen made no sound as the decis-
ion was rendered, but sudden
trembling took possession of her
body, and the strained expression Of
her face indicated how terribly she
was suffering. The judge then re-
marked that, while il had been i'm
possible to render any other decis-
iod than he had given, yet, in view
of the eXtenuating circumstances, he
was disposed to fix the bail as low as
possible. Mrs. OBrien. replied that
she could give no bail and would be
obliged to go to Jail. 1t was evident
that the thought of the disgrace dis
tressed her keenly, but she bore up
remarkably well. A representative
of Mr.. O'Brien then stated that his
client did not care to make any accu-
sation. In this Mr.. O'Brien is evil
IDENTIFY endeavOring to pose as a mag
unanimous and forbearing man. but
| 1t is very probable that he does not
think IL for his own good to figure in
n court, as some damaging facts
might be developed concerning him.
1t may seem unfair to judge OF Il
man so harshly without II hearing,
but considerable evidence has been
brought forward to prove that he is
all that this report represents him,
and the general sympathy is strongly
in favor of Mrs. OBrien.
The case Is very interesting, for it
is one of those i'm which there seems
to be conflict between equity and
| the law.
How a jury will decide the problem
remains TO be seen, but some inter
esting developments may be looked
for. Meanwhile Mrs. O'Brien de-
serves the sympathy of all charita-
BILE people.